pestdletos



(No Model.)

J. W. PENDLETON.

ADJUSTABLE THILL COUPLING.

No. 378,262. Patented Feb. 21, 1888.

W ITNEssEs: IN'VENTCR N PETERS Pmmu nnn n nnnnnnnn nnnn c iUivirijn STATES JOHN \V. PENDLETON, OF GREENVILLE, CALIFORNIA.

ADJUSTABLE THlLL COUPLiNG.

ESPECIFICATION farming part of Letters Patent No. 378.262, dated February 21, 1888 Application filed July 9, 1887. Serial No. 243,828. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Joan XV. Pnnnrnron, of Greenvillc, in the county of Pluinas and State of California, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Extension and Adjustable Thin-Couplings, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which Figure I is a top view of my invention showing thill-iron in place. view, partly in section; Fig. Ill, :1 View ofthe same, showing thill-iron in a changed position; Fig. IV, a perspective view of the members conjointly forming the yoke-socket Fig. V, a perspective view of the thilliron adapted to the socket, and FigVl shows a rubber cushion to insert in the socket-recesses when desired to use an ordinary-shaped thill-iron.

The object of my invention is to provide a thin-coupling that will be convenient, secure, adjustable, and extensible, and serve as a thill-support when the vehicle is not in use, and which is also so arranged that the thilliron, of any size or kind, can be readily and firmly attached or detached, all of which will now be fully set forth in detail.

Near each end of the axle and on the under side I provide a metallic plate, A, serrated along its forward edge at A. This plate is secured beneath and to the axle by means of ordinary clips, A, at each end. Upon this metallic plate or strip, which projects slightly from each side of the axle-bar, I provide a pair of metallic members, B,which conjointly form the receptacle for the thill-iron. These metallic parts are provided with an undercutrecess, 0, so as to he slipped on the serrated plate or bar previous to the latter being secured by clips to the axle.

The forward ends of the metallic members are formed with segmentary recesses D,which receive and retain the corresponding segmentary flanges E, that are formed upon the thilliron head F.

The rear end, G, of the thill-iron periphery has a hole which extends inwardly a suitable distance, in which is inserted a suitable pin, H, which bears outwardly. It is aretractile Fig. H is a side pin having a beveled end. When the thill or pole is raised to nearly its highest point, the pin H shoots out and locks itself against the inclined forward edge, J ,of the socket sufficient to hold the shafts erect, but will retract itself with slight forcing and allow the thill to be turned down for use.

The rearward peripheral face of the thilliron comes against and secures in position a sliding deg, K, which extends through an aperture and engages with the serrated plate A, so that when the thill-iron is secured in place the members B cannot be moved laterally.

It will be observed that this device is not only adjustable as to distance between the thillirons, but each socket part is relatively adjustable to accommodate any width of thilliron, and as each part is provided with a sliding lock plug or dog it follows that each can be secured to suit any emergency.

The rubber cushion I, Fig. V1, is inserted into the segmental cavities D, when it is de sired to use an ordinary chill-iron, and thc perforations provided in the parts l3 admit the use of the ordinary bolt which accompanies the eye in the ordinary thill-iron.

Having described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1S-

1. In thill-couplings, the plate A, combined with the thill-iron holder B, recessed in the forward end at D, and adapted to slide on said plate A, the dog K, the chill-iron, and the cushion I, substantially as described.

2. In thill-couplings, the plate on the under side of the axle projecting on the front and rear sides, having its forward edge serrated, in combination with a bisected thill-iron holder having grooves which engage with the proj ecting axle-plate, and a dog, K, having a serrated edge in the cavity of the thill-iron holder, substantially as herein set forth.

3. In a thin-coupling, the adjustable separable thill-iron holder having on its forward side a circular socket, the lower wall of which is inclined, in combination with a thill-iron head provided with a rcarwardly-projecting retractile pin having its lower end angled, substantially as herein set forth.

4. In a thin-coupling, the combination of In testimony that I claim the foregoing I an adjustable separable thilliron holder and have hereunto set my hand, this 24th day of a serrated plate on the axle, said separable May, 1887, in the presence of witnesses.

holder having in the rear Wall of the socket JOHN W. PENDLETON. 5 a stud or pin, the rear end of which engages Witnesses:

with the serrated plate, and the thill-iron head S. BoRsINI,

and rest-pin, substantially as herein set forth. THEODORE FORTINER. 

